North America: Atlantic, Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi River basins from Nova Scotia to southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada and south to James River drainage in Virginia, northern Ohio, central Missouri and Colorado, USA.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Biology
Glossary
(e.g. epibenthic)

Inhabits rocky pools near riffles in clear, cool creeks and small to medium rivers. Sometimes occurs in lakes in northern part of range (Ref. 86798). Oviparous (Ref. 205), nest spawners (Ref. 52559). Frequently hybridizes with Luxilus chrysocephalus in areas where the ranges of these two species overlap (Ref. 86798).